Top 10 happenings of 2008

As I looked back over 2008 and focused on the positives, I came up with this TOP 10 list (in chronological order):

1. In January, I got Sadie who is just precious and loves me absolutely unconditionally, even after I abandoned her for 2 weeks over Christmas break.

2. In February, I started training for Hike for discovery - an awesome event that required me to do one of my favorite things for 19 weeks in a row, while I raised money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and met a ton of awesome people who are a lot like family to me now.

3. In April, I finished 3 years of classes and got to experience for the first time life without homework. I cannot even begin to express how absolutely freeing this feeling is. I have fully embraced what it feels like to not have projects and deadlines constantly hanging over my head.

4. In May, I went to Mt. Rushmore in the motorhome with Dad, Julia, and Sadie. We had a great time all the way there and back.

5. In June, I traveled to Yosemite National Park with my hike team to climb Half Dome. What an amazing trip. I absolutely loved climbing without the Colorado altitude!

6. In July, my family and I went to Frontier Camp and spent a weekend on the lake. What an awesome experience for Jenny, Ben & I to share this place which is so near and dear to our hearts with our parents. We had a great time!

7. In October, I went to Phoenix to visit Greg, Sara, Julia and Susan. I also got to visit the State Fair of Arizona & the State Fair of Texas in the same month. It was so great to be back with old friends. Man, I miss these guys!

8. In November, my entire family went to my parents' house in Houston for Thanksgiving. I took the whole week off and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It's so fun having the whole family together.

9. I also spent a weekend in November experiencing poverty through Mission Waco. While I would not call this experience "fun", it certainly was eye opening. One thing I know God has been showing me this year is that this world is one big, messed up place, and He wants to use us to make a difference. This experience was one of many this year that opened my eyes and my heart to see what God is doing all over the world. I so want to be a part of it.

10. In December, my family went to Spain to visit Jenny. She spent last semester at St. Louis University in Madrid, so we took the opportunity to go visit! We traveled down to the Costa del Sol and even spent New Years Eve with Amine & Lisa in Malaga. I still can't believe it! Thank goodness I work for UTD and they gave me 2 whole weeks off so I didn't even have to use vacation days. Now that's a perk I probably won't have next year.